June 12, 2013

How We Homestead - Part 5: Looking Into the Future


This is Part 5 in a 5 weeks series called "How We Homestead" hosted by Staci at Life at Cobble Hill Farm.  You can find the other parts of the series here. Be sure to visit the other lovely women, linked to at the bottom of this post. 

Oh how I wish this was our view!

Today, we are finishing up the How We Homestead Series! Today's topic is Looking Into the Future - where we hope to be in 10 years and changes we'd like to make.

Our ultimate goal is to have a chunk of land (I'm thinking 5 or more acres if we can) where we can raise our children "in the country", have animals, and grow as much of our food as possible. We like the idea of being as dependent on ourselves as possible, but are realistic in knowing that we probably can't sever the ties completely.

To be specific, I would love to have chickens for eggs and meat, and goats for milk and meat. (I would love a cow for milk, but I think that might be more milk than we need.) I would like to have some kind of fiber animal, be it rabbit, sheep, or alpaca/llama.

We'd like to have a stock pond for fish, and a water source for ducks. Oh the plans we have....

I like the idea of solar and/or wind energy to get us off the grid and providing for our own energy needs.

We'd also like to have enough land to just play on for hiking and exploring and maybe even camping out in the back. Perhaps a wood lot as well for firewood.

I'd love to have our piece of land by the time the boys turn 10 - which is in just 4 years so we might not make it. Land around here is painfully expensive, and Ben wants to still be close-ish to a hospital in case of emergencies, so unless we get really lucky on price it might take awhile.

We've also gone back and forth on buying raw land and building, or buying land with a house already on it, which I think is what we're leaning toward for ease of finances.

I like to dream about all we could do on such a piece of land. And having the wide open spaces to breath and run and play.

But until then, I'm hoping to at least add some kind of food and/or fiber producing animal to our Little Homestead here in suburbia.




Thank you so much to Staci and the other wonderful women who have participated in this series. I have had so much fun, and it's been a great way for me to get back on track. I've also loved learning about everyone else and making new friends. And I'm a little sad it's over now. :)


~ * ~
 Visit the other women of the How We Homestead series:
Daisy from Maple Hill 101
Tammy from Our Neck Of The Woods
Amber from Making A Home 

12 comments:

Farm Girl said...

Worthy goal. I think that would all be a wonderful way to live. I think the boys would love it so much.
I love reading about your goals. You could get a rabbit where you are now. :)
I love watching those ladies spin wool right from the rabbit.
I know that as handy as you both are it could be a possibility. :)You both can do anything.

Staci@LifeAtCobbleHillFarm said...

Loved reading this - you have goals so similar to mine. :) We are back and forth on the empty lot or the lot with existing house and/or outbuildings and I think we'll just keep it open and hope for a great deal for either one. Building outbuildings takes a whole lot of time and money so, finger's crossed, we can find property with at least that! I'm sad it's over too........guess we'll have to think up a new series! :)

Kessie said...

I've enjoyed this series so much, I'm sad it's over, too. I love your goals and it'll be neat to watch you achieve them!

no spring chicken said...

I'm a little sad it's over too. :( Actually, you post about how you homestead all the time! And now that we've all met the other ladies too we can keep up with their plans as well.

Backyard chickens are easy and fun! Go for it. As for the goat/cow idea... I would love to have someone (close) that would share their cow with me. I have no property but a great desire to have raw cow's milk and cream. Just sayin'. There may be someone near you that would be willing to help out with the milking and pay weekly for a share in your cow...

Last year at the fiber market Erin almost bought an angora rabbit. Could be a beautiful addition to your backyard homestead!

Blessings, Debbie

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Hey Meg! Sounds like we have a lot of the same hopes and dreams for the future! It's so nice to meet like-minded people. I hope you guys can find some land soon like you want. We had to go pretty far out from the city (35 miles) in order to find land that we could afford. It can be so expensive!

I really enjoyed reading your posts and I'm happy that I got to know you better. Can't believe the series is over; it is a little sad!

daisy g said...

So glad I learned more about you and your family and now I can follow you toward your dream. Love the vision...keep it going. ;0)

Amber said...

Isn't it wonderful to be able to dream and plan and set goals?! Your goals sound wonderful!

Unknown said...

Good good goals to have :)

Blessings to you on your journey!

myletterstoemily said...

if you are able to realize your dream, then i
applaud you. i wonder about the direction our
country is heading and thing independence
is the answer.

Valerie Cottage Making Mommy said...

I love this series. Found you through it. We recently moved back to my honey's 10 acres family land that he grew up on. This was so helpful.

Hugs,

Valerie
Cottage Making Mommy
www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I wish I had thought about living more independently years ago. My husband and I are coming to an age where we would like to retire. I think besides the chickens it would be too much work for us. I think its a brilliant idea Meg!!

McKynzie said...

HI I am a Senior in Highschool and I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I don't know anyone that I can interview to get a better grasp on what I want to do, so a friend suggested I connect with some bloggers. So that's where this is coming from haha. I was just wondering what you actually majored in and what you were doing before you started homesteading. Also, how is it that you are making your living now? Thanks for your time!

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